[♪ music ] >> dr. king: i have i have a d. >> the anniversary of that speech. the march on washington. this is our coverage of the dream 50 years later. events under way, we want to take you live now to the stage in front of the lincoln memorial. that is the same spot that dr. dr. jr. made that famous "i have a dream" speech 50 years ago. you can see umbrellas are out.

the crowds number in the tens of thousands if not more gathering to make history today. some 50 years later. the choirs are singing. our mike viqueira is there, oprah winfrey will be starting the ceremonies in just a second. this is the lineup speaking today will be dr. king's family. presidents barack obama, bill clinton and jimmy carter as well as silver rights leader congressman john lewis. there will an number of bands and choirs performing in front of the crowd. joining us now from the lincoln memorial our mike viqueira. we have our dr. aubrey hendri hendrix{^l" ^}, and dr. williams of history and codirector of black studies. dr. hendrix, i want to start with you because you had a front-row seat to history last night. you were dining with a few important people.

who might that have been. >> well, it was a large reception. i wasn't exactly dining with them. >> that's how we tell the story. >> janet lewis, a number of the king familie family, a number of religious leaders and it was a wonderful, best afire i've been to at the white house. >> one of the interesting things about working in washington as long as i did, there is a tendency when the audience watches the president, when they watch dr. king, they think they're watching someone who is larger than life. these are people who are trust in a moment of history p what was it like for him knowing this was going to be a big day for him as well. >> he was joking about it a little bit. he said, they have me on a vice. they want me to speak on martin luther king day and the gett gettysburg affair as well. he wants to speak about this

moment about important issues facing african-americans and all americans at this moment. >> as we watch these scenes from washington, d.c. we forget the incredible history of the man for whom the monument was made himself, lincoln himself. he felt he bombed the, gett gettysburg address because the man before him had spoken so long and eloquently. >> because barack obama face this is tremendous moment in history where we have this bench march, the election of the nation's first black president, but at the same time the roll back request the supreme court ruling and shelby county, and so forth. this is to look at how far we've come as a society. 50 years ago when dr. martin

luther king with his dream and it seems thoug as though thingsn jeopardy. >> mike, it is not lost on anybody in this room how lucky we are because the umbrellas are out, and you are in the rain. >> reporter: well of course our textcal crew has provided me with an umbrella, and you can't see it. it is raining, and it has been intermittent off and on. a lot of folks here with their rain gear, but part the cliché, it has not dampened the spirits here. we just heard a fantastic medley of spiritual songs and a number of speakers. what strikes me is the number of absolute living legendses who are elderly now, people from the past from the long struggle from the heyday of the civil rights movement. i believe the president is on site now. i just saw the press pool that

travels with him. he'll be speaking in 40 minutes time as i understood it. we'll hear from two former presidents, two white southerners, as it would have it. it's been a day of part celebration, part renewal. and we have the historic african-american congregation in downtown washington. there was an reenactment of the march that ended up here at the lincoln memorial in this historic venue. it really is quite a day. >> mike, people forget this is washington, d.c. they see it as the nation's capitol, but it is also a city filled with people who welcome events like this, and realize how much history is being made on this day. i was at union station leaving just a few days ago, it was packed with people who are coming in from around the world to be part of history. are the crowds there today as large as they were yesterday? and i'm going to ask you to

think about that on the backside because right now oprah winfrey is taking to the stage. >> i'm absolutely thrilled to be here. i remember when i was nine years old and the march was occurring, and i had my mama, can i go to march? it took me 50 years, but i'm here on this date in this place at this time 50 years ago today dr. martin luther king shared his dream for america with america. dr. king was the passionate voice that awakened the conscience of a nation, and inspired people all over the world. the power of his words resonated because they were spoken out of an unwavering belief in freedom and justice equality and opportunity for all. let freedom ring was dr. king's closing call for a better and

more just america. so today people from all walks of life will gather at 3:00 p.m. for bell ringing events across our great country and around the world as we reaffirm our commitment to dr. king's ideals. dr. king believed that our destinies are all intertwined, and he knew that our hopes and our dreams are really all the same. he challenged us to see how we all are more alike than we are different. so as the bells of freedom ring today we are hoping that it's a time for all of us to reflect on not only the progress that has been made, and we've made a lot, but on what we have accomplished, and also on the

work that still remains before us. it is an opportunity today to recall where we once were in this nation, and to think about that young man with 34 years old stood up here and was able to force an entire country to wake up, to look at itself, and to eventually change. and as we, the people, continue to honor the dream of a man and a movement, a man who in his short life saw suffering and injustice, and refused to look the other way, we can be inspired, and we, too, can be courageous by continue ting to k in the footsteps of the path he forged. he was the one who reminded us that we will never walk alone. he was, after all a drum major

for justice. as the bells toll today let us reflect on the bravery, let us reflect on the sacrifice of those who stood up for freedom, who stood up for us, whose shoulders we now stand on. and as the bells toll today at 3:00 let us ask ourselves how will the dream live on in me, in you, in all of us? as the bells toll let us remind ourselves injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. as the bells toll we commit to a life of service because dr. king, on one of my favorite quotes from him is not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great because greatness is determined by service. what can we do to lift others up. as the bells toll we must

recommit that the love that abides and connects each of us to shine through and let freedom ring. is. [applause] >> that, of course, is oprah winfrey, the queen of daytime tv there to address us on national mall. she began her broadcast career just 32 miles up the road in baltimore, maryland. no one then, certainly not oprah, would believe would be where she is today. we owe our careers, in fact, to the dream. the man you see coming to the podium now, john lewis, who was there and came under attack. just as passionate today as he was then. [applause]

>> as we wait for congressman lewis to address the crowd. >> dr. hendrix, you were saying it's amazing he still has the passion based on where he was born, briefly. >> the president? >> no, john lewis. >> congressman rebusiness. >> oh, yeah--congressman lewis. >> he has been amazing. to survive those beatings as he did. he has come up strong. >> as you sit in his office, by the way, you must be amazed by the fact that congressman lewis still holds on to many of the

momentos of that day. that was an event that shaped his life. they just announced the arrival of the president of the united states. that being the reason that john lewis did not begin to speak. behind him president bill clinton, and behind him president jimmy carter. and professor williams, not lost that you have thon the fact thae first african-american president and then two presidents born in the south. >> so it's significant that they are southerners but we have to acknowledge johnson's role to the fact that southerners had to be on board to a certain extent for that legislation to get through. >> just a momentis moment, if y, dr. hendrix, what must be going through his mind as he releases what has come over the last 50 years.

[ the "star spangled banner" ]

[ the star-spangle the "star sp] [applause] >> what a moment in the sun for

those young ladies not to be lost on history the fact that marianne anderson performed there because as an african-american performer she could not perform at constitution hall. here is congressman john lewis. >> president and mrs. obama, president clinton, president carter, i want to thank bernice king, the king family and national parks service who invited me here to speak today. when i look out over this diverse crowd and survey the guests on this platform, i seemed to realize what otis redding saying about wha, and wt

reverend martin luther king spoke about, this time in history has been a long time coming, but a change has come. plucome. [applause] >> we're standing in the shadow of abraham lincoln, only 50 years after the historic march on washington for jobs and freedom. we've come a great distance in this country in the 50 years we still have a great distance to go before we fulfill the dream of martin luther king jr. sometime i hear people saying, nothing has changed, but for someone to grow up the way i grew up in the cotton fields of alabama, to now be serving in the united states congress makes me want to tell them come and

walk in my shoes. come and, walk in the shoes of those who the police fought with fire hoses and night sticks and arrested and took to jail. i first came to washington the same year that president barack obama was born to participate in the freedom ride. in 1961 black and white people could not be seated together on the greyhound bus. so we decided to take an integrated fashion ride from here to new orleans. but we never made it there. over 400 of us were arrested and jailed in mississippi during the freedom ride. a bus was set on fire in alabama. we were beaten and arrested and

jailed, but we helped bring them in to segregation in public transportation. i came back here again in june of 196 1963 as the new chairmanf the student non-violent committee. we met with president kennedy, who said the frustration throughout america. in 1963 we cannot because of the color of our skin. we had t to pay a tax, pass a tt because of the color of our skin and pass a vote in jelly beans in a jar. thousand of people were arrested trying to participate in the integration process. many innocent were killed in mississippi, and that's why we

told president kennedy we intended to march on washington to demonstrate the need for equal justice and equal opportunity in america. on august 28, 1963, the nation's capitol was in a state of emergency. thousands of troops surroundedded this city, little stores were closed, but the march was so orderly, so peaceful it was filled with dignity and self-respect because we believe in a way of peace, the way of love, the way of non-violence. people came that day to their march dressed like they were on their way to a religious service.

as hayley jackson was saying how we got over. how we got over drew thousands of us together in a strange sense. it seemed like the whole place started rocking. we truly believe that in every human being, even those who were violent towards us, there is a spark of the divine. and no person had the right to scar, destroy that spark. martin luther king jr. taught us the way of peace, the way of love, the way of none violence. he taught us to have the power to forgive, the capacity to be reconciled. he taught us to stand up, to speak up, to speak out, to find a way to get in the way.

people were tired of injustice and inequality, and they were willing to put their bodies on the line for a greater cause, greater than themselves. not one incident of violence was reported that day. the spirit of dr. king's words captured the hearts of people not just around america, but around the world. on that day martin luther king made a speech, but he also delivered a sermon. he transformed these marvelous steps at the lincoln memorial into a modern day pulpit. he changed us forever. after the ceremony was over president kennedy invited us

back down to the white house he me.he met us and he was beaming like a proud father. as he shook the hands of each of one of us he said, you did a good job. you did a good job. and he said to dr. king, you have a dream. 50 years later we can ride anywhere we want to ride. we can stay where we want to stay. those signs that said "white or colored" are gone, and you won't see them any more. a step in a museum, in a book, on the video. but there are still invisible signs, barriers in the hearts of human kind that form a gulf between us.

too many of us still believe in differences instead of the divine spark in all humans. but if it's stop and frisk in new york or injustice in the trayvon martin case in florida, the mass incarceration of millions of americans, immigrants hiding in fear in the shadow of our society, unemployment, homelessness, poverty and hunger and the renewal struggle for voting rights. we must never ever give up. we must never ever give in. we must keep the faith and keep our eyes on the drive. [applause]

we did go to jail, but we got our civil rights back. we got our voting rights back. we got our fair housing, but we must continue to push. we must continue to work. as the late mr. randolph said, the organizer for the march of 1963, the dean of the civil rights movement once said we may have come here on different ships, but we are all in the same boat now. it doesn't matter whether we're black or white, latino, asian-american or native american, whether we are gay or straight, we are one people, we are one family, we are all living the same house. not just american house, but the world house.

>> when we finally accept these truths then we're able to fulfill dr. king's dream. to build a community, a nation, and a world at peace with itself. thank you very much. [applause] >> that, of course, is congressman john lewis, the speaker today on the podium. the only one who was there 50 years ago then as a student organizer, part of the stunt non-violent coordinating committee. our coverage of the anniversary of king's march on washington continues after the break. when we come back we'll hear more from this man, former president jimmy carter.

>> welcome back to our special coverage of the dream. the man at the podium needs to introduction. former president jimmy carter, the peanut farmer from georgia. >> every one of them had a white child's name in front of the book. we finally obtained some buses. in the state legislature ordained the front fenders be painted black. not even the school buses could be equal to each other. one of the finest moments of our lives was ten months after

dr. king's speech right here when lyndon b. johnson signed the civil rights act. i was grateful when the king family adopted me as their presidential candidate in 1976. every handshake from dr. king, every hug from coretta got me a million yankees votes, and coretta was in the hotel room with me and rosalynn when i was elected president. the freedom citation to coretta and dr. king, i quote, he gazed at the great wall of segregation and saw the power of love could bring it down. he made our nation stronger because he made it better. we were able to create a national historic site where

dr. king lived, worked and worship. it's next door to the center linked together just by walking path. at the center we tried to make we follow the same as theirs, emphasizing peace and human rights. i remember dr. king said too many people think martin king freedom only black people. in truth he freed all people. and added it's not enough to have the right to sit at the lunch counter if you can't afford to buy a meal. and he said the ghetto looks the same even from the front seat of the bus. perhaps the most important statement from dr. martin luther king jr. was how to overcome

oppression and violence without resort to go oppression and violence. in the nobel prize ceremony of 2002 i said that my fellow georgian was, i quote again, the greatest leader that my native state and perhaps my native country has ever produced. and i was not excluding presidents and even the founding fathers when i said this. i believe we all know how dr. king would have reacted to the new i.d. requirements to exclude certainly voters, especially african-americans. i think we all know how dr. king would have reacted to the supreme court striking down a crucial part of the voters rights act just passed recently by congress. i think we all know how dr. king would have reacted to

unemployment of african-americans being twice the rate of white people, and teenagers at 42%. i think we all know how dr. king would know how dr. king would have reacted to guns and the stand your ground laws. we all would have known how dr. king would have reacted to know all people do not have voter rights. and how he would have reacted to have five times as many african-american in prison, and one-third of african-american males to be destined to be in prison in their lifetimes. i'm grateful to martin luther king jr. that his dream is still

alive. thank you. [applause] >> jimmy carter, of course the simple peanut farmer from georgia sharing the same state as dr. martin luther king. and bill clinton born in the segregated south who remember those whites only restaurant and people forced to sit in the back of the bus. >> president obama, president carter, vice president biden, dr. biden, i want to thank my great friend, reverend bernice king and the king family for inviting me to be a part of this 50th observation of one of the most important days in american history. dr. king and philip randolph, john lewis and others who led

this massive march knew what they were doing on this hallowed ground. in the shadow of lincoln's statue, in the burning memory of the fact that he gave his life to preserve the union and end slavery, martin luther king urged his crowd not to drink from the cup of bitterness. but to reach across the racial divide because he said we cannot walk alone. their destiny is tied up in our destiny. their freedom is bound in our freedom. he urged the victims of racial violence to meet white americans with an outstretched hand, not a

clinched fist, to prove the redeeming power of unearned suffering. and then he dreamed of an america where all citizens would sit to believe a together at th. where his own children would be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. this march and that speech changed america. they opened minds, they melted hearts, and they moved millions, including a 17-year-old boy watching alone in his home in arkansas. it was an empowering moment, but also an empowered moment.

as the great chronicler of those years taylor branch wrote, the movement here gave us the force to open, quote, the stubborn gates of freedom. and outflowed the civil rights act, voting rights act, integration reform, medicare, medicaid, open housing. it has done well to remember the leaders and foot soldiers here were both idealists and tough realists. they had to be. it was a violent time. just three months later we lost president kennedy. we thank god that president johnson came in and fought for all those issues i just mentioned. just five years later we lost senator kennedy, and in between there was the carnage of the fight for jobs, freedom, and equality. just 18 days after this march

four little children were killed in the birmingham church bombing. then there were the klu klux klan murders, the mississippi lynching. and a dozen others until in 1968 dr. king himself was martyred, still marching for jobs and freedom. what a debt we owe to those people who came here 50 years ago. [applause] the martyrs played it all for a dream. a dream that john lewis said that millions have now actually lived. so how are we going to repay the debt? dr. king's dream of interdependence, his prescription of whole

heartedness across racial lines rings as true today as it did 50 years ago. oh, yes, we phase terrible gridlock now. it's nothing new. yes there remained racial inequalities, employment, heal health, wealth, victimization and perpetration of crime. but we don't face lynches and beatings for our political beliefs any more. and i would suggest that martin luther king did not live and die to hear his heirs whine about the political gridlock. it is time to stop complaining and put our shoulders against the stubborn gates holding american people back. we cannot be disheartened by the forces of resistence to building a modern economy of good jobs and rising incomes or to

building our education system to give all our children a common core of knowledge necessary to insure success. or to give americans of all ages access to affordable college and training programs. and we thank the president for his efforts in those regards. we cannot relax in our efforts to implement healthcare reform in a way that ends discrimination against those with pre-existing conditions, one of which is inadequate income to pay for rising healthcare. [applause] a healthcare reform that will lower cost and lengthen lives. nor can we stop investing in science and technology to train our young people of all races for the jobs of tomorrow, and to act on what we learned about our bodies, our businesses, and our

climate. we must push open those stubborn gates. we cannot be discouraged by a supreme court decision.

>> the landscape is littered with dashed dreams and lost hopes of all races. the ironry is the future never brimmed with more possibilities. it has never burned brighter in what we could become. if we push open those stubborn gates. and if we do it together. the choice remains as it was on that distant summer day 50 years ago, cooperate and thrive or fight with each other and fall behind. we should all thank god for dr. king and john lewis, and all those who gave us a dream to guide us, a dream they made for like our founders with their lives, their fortunes, their sacred honor. and we thank them for reminding us that america is always

becoming, always on a journey, and we all, every single citizen among us, have to run our lap. god bless them,ed , and god bles america. >> of course, former president bill clinton being embraced by president obama. when we come back as our special coverage of the anniversary of dr. martin luther king's i have a dream speech. we'll hear from members of the king family. we'll take a break.

>> we go to the eldest son of dr. martin luther king, the man who bears his name, dr. martin luther king iii. love and forgiveness is what we need more of, not just in our nation, but really throughout the world. so i want to rush to tell you that said the ultimate matchup of a human being is where one stands, not in times of comfort and convenience, but challenge and controversy. he went on to say that position politics, vanity is a decision popular that something deep

inside called conscience. sometimes we must take positions that are neither safe nor popular nor politics, but we must take those positions because our conscience tells us they are right. [applause] i finally say this afternoon we've got a lot of work to do, but none of us should be in any ways tired. why? because we've come much too far from where we started. you see, no one ever told any of us that our roads would be easy, but i know our god, our god, our god did not bring any of us this far to leave us. thank you, god bless you. [applause] >> that of course of martin luther king iii, the eldest son of the dr. reverend martin

luther king. of course the burden placed on that family is immense when you think about it. think about a family where every church you went to in the south during that time you saw the image of your father on every fan in every pew. >> presidents clinton and carter, other distinguished program participants, i am honored to be among you today, and to address this historic gathering. i don't know if i am the most senior speaker to address this assembly today, but i am certainly, and surely the only person alive who knew martin luther king jr. when he was a baby. it has been my great privilege

to watch my little brother grow and thrive and develop into a fine man, and then a great leader whose legacy continues to inspire countless, millions around the world. unfortunately, a bought of flew virus 50 years ago prevented me from attending the original march, but i was able to watch it on television, and i was as awestruck as everyone else. i knew martin was an excellent preacher because i had seen him deliver on many occasions, but on that day martin achieved greatness because he nailed the

hopes and dreams of millions into a grand appealing of reconciliation and brotherhood. the dream that my brother shared with the nation on that sweltering day 50 years ago continues to nurture and sustain non-violent activists worldwide for freedom and human rights. indeed, this gathering provides a powerful testament of hope and proof positive that martin's great dream will live on in the heart of humanity for generations to come.

our challenge then as followers of martin luther king jr. is to now honor his life, leadership, and legacy by living our lives in a way that carries forward the unfinished work. there is no better way to honor his sacrifices and contributions than by becoming champions of non-violence in our homes and communities, in our places of work, worship, and learning. everywhere, every day the dream martin shared on that day a half century ago remains a definitive statement of the american dream. the beautiful vision of a

diverse freedom-loving people united in our love for justice, brotherhood, and sisterhood, yes, they can slay the dreamer, but no, they cannot destroy his immortal dream. but martin's dream is a vision not yet to be realized. a dream yet unfilled, and we have much to do before we can celebrate the dream as a reali reality, as the suppression of voter rights and horrific violence that has taken the life of trayvon martin and young people all across america as has been so painfully demonstrated.

but despite the influences and challenges we face we are here today to affirm the dream. we are not going to be discouraged. we are not going to be distracted. we are not going to be defeated. instead, we are going forward into this uncertain future with courage and determination to make the dream a vibrant reality. and so the work to fulfill the dream goes on, and despite the daunting challenges we face on the road to the beloved community, i feel that the dream is sinking deep and noshing roots all across america and around the world. may it continue to thrive and

spread and help bring justice, peace, and liberation to all humanity. thank you, and god bless you all. [applause] >> that is of course christine king ferries, the sister of the dr. martin luther king. she said she will not give her age. we will not either. we know when to respect people who might be a little younger than us. speaking next, bernice king, his daughter who was four at the time of his death. >> mrs. obama, president obama, presidents clinton and carter, mr. lewis, to my entire family. i was five months old when my

father delivered his "i have a dream speech," and i was probably somewhere crawling on the floor or taking a nap after having a meal. but today is a glorious day because on this program today we have witnessed a manifestation of the beloved community. we thank everyone for their presence here today. today we have been honored to have three presidents of the united states. 50 years ago the president did not attend. today we are honored to have many women in the planning and mobilization of the 50th anniversary of the march on washington. and 50 years ago there was not a single woman on the program. today we are honored to have not just one young person but

several young people on the program today. it is the tribute to the work and legacy of people who have gone on before us. 50 years ago today in the symbolic shadow of this great emancipator abraham lincoln, my father, the great liberator stood in this very spot and declared to this nation his dream to let freedom ring for all people who were being mancalled by a system of segregation. 50 years ago he youngerred us to go back to our cities, towns, and let freedom ring. the reverberation of the sound of that freedom message has amplified and echoed since 1963. through the decades and coast to coast throughout this nation, and even around the world, and as has summoned us once again

back to these hallowed ground to send out a clarion call to let freedom ring. since that time as a result of the civil rights act of 1964. the voting rights act of 1965, and the fair housing act of 1968 we have witnessed great strides towards freedom for all regardless of race, color, gender, reasonable, national origin, disability,s class or sexual orientation. 50 years later of this year of jubilee we're standing once again in the shadow of that great emancipator having been summoned to these hallowed grounds to reverberate the message of that great liberator for there is a remnant from is the 63, congress lewis,

ambassador young, who still remain, who comes to bequeath that message of freedom to a new generation of people who must now carry that message in their time, in their communities, amongst their tribes, and amongst their nations of the world. we must keep the sound and the message of freedom and justice going. it was my mother, as has been said previously, corretta scott king who 0 years ago assembled a coalition of conscience that started us on the path of remembering the march on washington. she reminded us that struggle is a never-ending process. freedom is never really won. you earn it and win it in every generation. so we come once again to let freedom ring because if freedom

stops ringing then the sound will disappear, and the atmosphere will be charged with something else. 50 years later we come once again to this special landing on the steps of the lincoln memorial to reflect, to renew, and to rejuvenate for the continued struggle of freedom and justice. for today 50 years later, my friends, we are still crippled by practices and policies steepedded in racial pride, hatred and hostility. some of which have a standing our ground rather than finding common ground. we are still chained by economic disparities, income and class inequalities, and conditions of poverty for many of god's children around this nation and the world. we're still bound bicycl by cycf

civil unrest and civil biasness in our nation and world that oftentimes generates into violence and destruction, especially against women and children. we're at this landing, and now we must break the cycle. the prophet king spoke the vision. he made it plain, and we must run with it in this generation his prophetic vision and magnificent dream described the yearning of people all over the world to have a freedom to prosper in life, which is the right to pursue one's aspirations, purpose, dreams, well-being, without oppressive, depressive, repressive practic practices, behaviors, laws and conditions that diminishes dignity and one's lifelong

freedom and the pursuit of happiness. the right to have a voice and a say of how you're represented, regulated and governed without threats of tyranny, disfranchisement and behaviors, and to have freedom to peacefu peacefully coexist with respect of self hood, uniqueness without fear of attack, assault or abuse. in 1967 my father asked a poignant and critical question: where do we go from here, chaos or community? we say with a resounding voice no to chaos and yes to community. if we're going to rid ourselves of the chaos, then we must make a necessary shift. nothing is more tragic than for us to fail, to achieve new attitudes and new mental outlooks.

we have a tremendous and unprecedented opportunity to reset the very means by which we live, work, and enjoy our lives. if we're going to continue the struggle of freedom and create true community then we will have to be relentless in exposing, confronting, and ridding ourselves of the mindset of pride and greed and selfishness and hate and lust and fear and eye collinidolness and lack of d lack of love for our neighbor. we must seize this moment the dawning of a new day, the emergence of a new generation who has postured to change the world through collaborative power facilitated by unconditional love. and as i close i call upon my brother by the name of nehemiah who was also in the midst of rebuilding a community. and in the midst of rebuilding a community he brought the leaders and the rulers and the rest of

the people together, and he told them that the work is great and large, and we are widely separated one from another on the wall. but when you hear the sound of the trumpet and might i say when you hear the sound of the bell today, come to that spot, and our god will fight with us. and so today we're going to let freedom ring all across this nation. we're going to let freedom ring everywhere we go. if freedom is going to ring in libya, in syria, in egypt, in florida, then we must reach across the table, feed each other and let freedom ring. [applause]